Monthly Archives: January 2011

I’ll never cease to be amazed by the distinct personalities of domestic cats. I’ve had quite a few cats in my life; I currently have five, and they’re all as unique as any people you may know. Here’s a synopsis … Continue reading →

Tracks from members of the dog family vaguely resemble those of cats, with one especially distinct difference. Cats have retractable claws, and normally don’t leave claw marks unless they lose their footing. Dogs generally have fixed claws, and almost always … Continue reading →

Boxelder trees (Acer negundo, Aceraceae) are easy to identify in the winter thanks to their distinct seeds. Like other members of the maple family, these trees produce seeds with papery wings known as samaras. Unlike other maples, boxelder samaras tend … Continue reading →

The tracks above belong to a mouse (Mus sp., Muridae). When moving quickly they hop along and leave large footprints with their rear feet. They also tend to leave streaks where their tails drag along behind them. The smaller print … Continue reading →

There’s a large group of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo, Phasianidae) living near my parents’ house, but thus far I haven’t been lucky enough to photograph them. While out looking for them the other day, I did find a lot of … Continue reading →

The Cheat River Gorge is a remarkable natural feature located in northeastern West Virginia. This area is known for beautiful scenery, white-water rafting and rock climbing, all thanks to the geologic processes that have forged this wonder. From the Cambrian … Continue reading →

New Year’s Eve was a rather mild day amidst a cold Michigan winter, and I ventured into the woods to poke around. I tore into some rotting wood and found these little guys nestled inside. I really don’t know what … Continue reading →